Surprise! Obama puts the squeeze on consumers in states that refuse to set up insurance exchanges

House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi last year famously said of legislation creating Obamacare: "We have to pass the [2,700-page] bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy."

So, now we're finding out one more thing: The Obama administration will charge insurance companies 3. to 5-percent of any premiums they sell through federal insurance exchanges that are created the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The extra cost most assuredly will be passed on to the consumers--unless another hidden provision in Obamacare prevents that from happening.

It's a way for Obama to pressure and punish states that don't want to set up the exchanges because they will be costly and risky. Seventeen states have decided not to join and more are thinking about abstaining also. Under the law, the federal government then is obliged to set up an exchange for states that don't join. Those states are run by Republicans, so naturally Obama is motivated to tan their hides for being so uncooperative and, I should add, sensible.

Surely, we'll be finding out more such gems hidden in Obama care. Maybe Republicans don't have to lead the charge to repeal it. It might just collapse of its own weight and unforeseen consequences.